By Ronald Erastus Mkandawire, Elected President of The 20th Episcopal District, William E. Ayers, Jr., CLO Historiographer, and Matikane Abednego Makiti, President, CLO
Lay Organization Leadership of the AME Church 20th Episcopal District
The 20th Episcopal District was formally established in 2004 following the approved redistricting process. Bishop W. Jacobus Messiah was appointed as the first Presiding Bishop of the district. He was succeeded by Bishop Julius McAllister, who served as the second Presiding Bishop of the 20th Episcopal District.
Successive episcopal leaders have since served the district. The current Presiding Prelate is Bishop Dr. Gregory Vaughn Eason, Sr., who serves as the sixth Presiding Bishop since the district’s formation. The first Lay President of the 20th Episcopal District was Brother Phillip Nhekairo of Zimbabwe, who served during the episcopacy of Bishop W. Jacobus Messiah from 2004-2008.
During the tenure of Bishop Julius McAllister, the late Brother Charles Evance assumed leadership of the Episcopal District Lay organization. Following his passing, leadership transitioned to Brother Gibson Mengwe, who had been serving as First Vice President.
Brother Siles Gulule succeeded Brother Mengwe; he is now a Presiding Elder in Malawi Central Annual Conference and served as Lay President. Brother Qedindaba Khumalo followed him. The current elected Lay President of the 20th Episcopal District is Brother Ronald Erastus Mkandawire, who assumed the leadership mantle following Brother Khumalo.
Structure, Geography, and Administration
The 20th Episcopal District is organized into seven (7) Annual Conferences and comprises a total of 244 African Methodist Episcopal churches. The district spans five African countries: Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
Currently, all seven Annual Conferences within the 20th Episcopal District have Conference Lay Presidents, each supported by their respective executive office. These officers provide essential administrative support to the Presiding Elders and District Presidents within their conferences, strengthening governance and coordination at all levels of the district.
The district reflects broad cultural and linguistic diversity, with more than eight local languages spoken across its conferences and congregations. From its roots in the former 17th Episcopal District to its formal establishment in 2004, the 20th Episcopal District has continued to grow in leadership, structure, and regional influence. Through faithful episcopal oversight and organized lay leadership, the district stands as a vital part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s mission and witness in Africa.
AME History Fact
QUESTIONS
Q1. How was W.E.B. Dubois connected to the AME Church?
Q2. He is the son of the founder and first bishop of the AME Church. He was killed fighting the Mexicans in Texas. What is his name?
Q3. Who attended Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC, while a student at Howard University?
Q4. What year did the AME Church have three senior bishops?
Q5. What AME church was firebombed? Hint: It was not in the South. It was not done by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).
Q6. Which Lay presidents had the longest and shortest tenure?
Q7. Which districts have not hosted a General Conference?
Q8. Who was the first female Lay President?
Q9. What is the location of the original 15th District, and who was the original leader?
Q10. Frank Sinatra said this person had the greatest voice. Who was it?
ANSWERS
A1. W.E.B. Du Bois was raised in the Congregational Church and taught Greek and Latin at Wilberforce University from 1894 to 1896, where he met his future wife, Nina Gomer, a former student.
A2. Peter Allen.
A3. Attorney Herbert L. Dudley served as Lay president between 1844 and 1859. Born in Belleville, TX, he later relocated to Detroit, MI, where he joined Ebenezer AME Church in 1929.*
A4. In 1967, the AME Church had three senior bishops. After Bishop Sherman Greene, who served from 1953 to 1967, passed away in June, Bishop Richard Wright succeeded him. At 89 years old, Bishop Wright was the oldest senior bishop and held the position for the shortest tenure, ending in December. Bishop George W. Baber then became his successor.
A5. Greater Institutional AME Church, located in Chicago, IL, was founded by Rev. Reverdy Cassius Ransom, who later became Bishop. Rev. Ransom expressed concern upon learning that his congregation and members of the surrounding community were utilizing his sermon texts to engage in gambling activities and lottery play. After publicly addressing this issue, the church experienced a firebombing incident in 1903.
A6. Brother J. D. Williams served as the longest-tenured Lay President for 26 years; Brother Arthur Dean Burns served the shortest for 2 years.
A7. The 7th, 9th and 12th Districts.
A8. The first female Lay President was Dr. Katheryn Middleton Brown of the Episcopal District. Elected in 1985 at the Lay Biennial in Nashville, TN.
A9. South Africa / Dr. Wilfred Noel Nduna.
A10. The inimitable Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, VA. After her family moved to Yonkers, New York, she sang in the choir at Bethany AME Church.
*Newspapers by Ancestry, Obituary for Herbert Dudley
Submitted By Brother Darwin Curry, Immediate Past Historiographer, WCLO, 2nd Episcopal District
Brother William E. Ayers, Jr., CLO Historiographer
Brother Matikane Abednego Makiti, President, CLO
